National Geographic explores Mactan cave

CEBU, Philippines - A team of divers and archaeologists funded by the National Geographic Society and the Philippine National Museum are currently exploring the Marigondon underwater cave, just off Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan for “possible pre-historic activities”.

Team head, archaeologist John A. Peterson, assistant vice president for graduate studies of the University of Guam, was the one who requested the National Geographic Society and the WAITT Foundation to fund the exploration based on a study made by the University of San Carlos 20 years ago. The study and cave mapping, Peterson said, showed that the silt in the area took “hundreds of thousands of years to settle.”

He added that he chose the Marigondon underwater cave, which is 120 meters below sea level, for exploration works because it is conveniently located, being only 75 meters offshore.

“There are a lot of other underwater caves but these are so remote,” he said.

The primary objectives of the US$50,000 exploration, according to Sheldon Clyde Jago-on, Senior Museum Researcher, Underwater Archaeology Section of the Philippine National Museum, is to look for the presence of terrestrial sediments and, if ancient humans lived in the cave, to find their tools, bones and other artifacts.

The team, which started exploration works last May 6, is composed of 17 members, mainly archaeologists and videographers who also dive, including famous underwater videographer Marissa Florendo. The exploration and excavation dives will last until May 16 but the whole project, including the dating of possible archaeological finds, will run for eight months before the results will be submitted to the National Geographic Society.

“We are now in the process of removing marine sediments to get to the ancient terrestrial sediments. We hope to get ancient remains of humans and megafauna such as stegodon elephants,” Jago-on said, adding that archaeological finds from other areas in the country show proof that megafauna once lived here.

Megafauna are large animals and stegodons are considered to be the ancestors of elephants.

Petersen said that there is evidence that the cave was above sea level some 12,000 to 18,000 years ago and the team is positive that they “will find something.” He added that the research is also about climate change.

“The research will help us determine future climate changes. The research can tell us what may happen in the future by looking at the past,” he said.

Jago-on said that the exploration and excavation is limited to the first six meters from the mouth of the cave, which is 38 meters in length. The rock samples and other archaeological finds will then be studied, carbon-dated and then submitted to the National Geographic Society.

Efren Belarmino of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa said the study is very interesting and the resort is proud that they are the first to sponsor such an exploration. The research is also sponsored by the University of Guam, Philippine Airlines and Joy Onozawa.

For the duration of the study, the Marigondon cave will be under the jurisdiction of the National Museum and will therefore be off limits to other divers. –(FREEMAN)